- The host
- The request
- The names of the Bride and Groom
- The date and time
- The location
- The reception (if applicable)
1. THE HOST
Here are some examples of host wording:
| Parents Hosting | Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Haynes // request the pleasure of your company // at the marriage of their daughter |
| Divorced Parents, neither remarried | Ms. Harroway (mother comes first) // Mr. Andrew Haynes // request the pleasure of your company // at the marriage of their daughter |
| Divorced Parents, Mother remarried | Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wicks // Mr. Andrew Haynes // request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter |
| Divorced Parents, Father remarried | Ms. Harroway // Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Haynes // request the pleasure of your company // at the marriage of their daughter |
| Both remarried | Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wicks // Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Haynes // request the pleasure of your company // at the marriage of their daughter |
| To Honour a deceased parent | A deceased parent technically can't serve as a host, but a way to mention them can be: Hillary Haynes, daughter of Mr. Andrew Haynes and the late Helen Jones |
| Bride and Groom Hosting | Bride's Name and Groom's Name (bride's name is always first) |
| Bride and Groom and Parents Hosting | Together with our parents/ together with our families |
| No Designated Host | To keep things short and sweet, only mention the who, what, when, and where. |
Quick Tip 1: The word “and” between two names implies that those people are married. For unmarried hosts or guests, it is best to stack their names; with exception to the Bride and Groom’s names.
Quick Tip 2: Married couple's names should be on the same line. The names of divorced couples should be on separate lines. The exception is the Bride and Groom’s names.
2.THE REQUEST LINE:
Usually, to ask for the honour of your guests’ company. Whatever the occasion, certain expressions are always appropriate, these include:
- "request the honour of your presence" (are reserved for a church),
- "the pleasure of your company is requested" or "request the pleasure of your company",
- "Please join us as we celebrate".
- "invite you to celebrate with them/us",
- "you are invited to attend",
3.THE NAMES OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM:
The bride's name always precedes the groom’s name, traditionally speaking. Her first and middle name are used only if the bride's parents are included in the invitation and she shares their last name. This same rule applies to the groom. Their last names are used only if the couple is hosting by themselves.
For same-sex marriage, you may choose to go in alphabetical order or choose what sounds better for you.
4.THE DATE AND THE TIME:
Stick to the basics; date, time and location should all be listed.
Everything is written out in full for formal weddings, for example:
"ten o’clock in the morning
Sunday, the fourth of November
Two Thousand Twenty-Two"
5.THE LOCATION:
The city/town and state/province/county should be written out in full. Be sure to include the street address too.
6.RECEPTION:
You do not need a reception card if the ceremony and reception are being held in the same place. At the bottom of the invitation, say “Dinner and Dancing to Follow,” “Reception to follow,” or your own wording you wish to have.
Here are some real wedding invitation wordings from Make Me Digital:
(To shop the designs or view more of their collections, click on the invitations shown below)
